I'm guessing that these rifles will be sold through the CMP?
Posted on 01/26/2012 11:18:47 AM PST by Sasparilla
Firearms will be sold to Korean War veterans
By Lee Tae-hoon
Washington has agreed to allow the importation of M1 Garand rifles from Seoul, reversing its earlier decision to ban the shipping of the weapon used by South Korean and U.S. soldiers during the 1950-53 Korean War, a senior defense official said Wednesday.
“The U.S. government approved the imports of some 86,000 of the rifles,” said Lee Sun-chul, deputy defense minister for force and resources management.
“The historic firearms are expected to be sold to American Korean War veterans and their families in time for the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War, which falls on June 25 this year.”
Kim Mi-sung, an official of the force and resources management office, said the defense ministry received an approval letter from the United States on Sept. 2 last year that stated Washington agreed to allow the importation of the M1s.
She noted that the U.S. government, however, rejected Seoul’s proposal to export some 600,000 M1 Carbines, which were also used in the Korean War, as they come with a magazine that can carry multiple rounds unlike the Garands.
“We plan to announce a bid later this month or in February for the selection of agencies to sell the M1 rifles to Americans,” Kim said. “The U.S. has been reviewing legal procedures for the approval of a third party transfer.”
The official said Korea plans to purchase locally developed K2 rifles with the money raised by selling the M1s.
The Obama administration blocked the purchase of 87,310 M1 Garands and 770,160 M1 Carbines in 2010, saying the American-made antique rifles could “potentially be exploited by individuals seeking firearms for illicit purposes.”
The move, however, triggered strong criticism among gun collectors, who said the U.S. government was being excessively concerned about possible firearm incidents involving the aging semiautomatic rifles.
In February last year, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Cynthia Lummis proposed bills for an amendment of the Arms Export Control Act to guarantee that U.S.-made military firearms classified as “curios and relics” will not be blocked from importation.
The legislations allow firearms more than 50 years old, considered antiques or relics and lawfully possessed by a foreign government, to be imported into the United States through properly licensed groups and sold without written permission from the U.S. State or Defense Departments.
A senior defense ministry official, however, raised the possibility that the U.S. government may cancel the plan to allow the purchase the M1s, saying Seoul has yet to finalize negotiations with Washington.
``We have yet to receive confirmation from the United States over our proposal,” he said. “The U.S. government may change its position at the last minute due to political considerations.”
M1s were made first in 1926 and used during World War II and the Vietnam War. The carbines were first produced in 1941 and used during the 1950-1953 Korean War.
They currently sell for around $220, according to another defense ministry official.
Darnit! I went to the casino for a few days.
$220! WOW. Where do I sign up?
Oooooh. I want a couple of those Garands...
Idiots. The M1 Garand carries 8 rounds in an internal magazine that is charged with a clip.
The only difference is, IIRC, the M1 Carbine came with 15-round detachable mags. Net difference is 7 rounds, and I can reload my Garand faster than I could the Carbine due to the fact the Garand ejects the spent clip after the last round, and all I have to do is insert the new clip.
Bringing in that many M-1 carbines, would make them cheap truck guns again, as they were 30 to 40 years ago.
What he said. How does the purchase process work for an American citizen?
Yes, many armed robberies are committed by people using M1 rifles. Right?
Yes. Especially if you are over 6 feet tall and have a stiff leg.
I have both weapons and like them both for different reasons.
The carbine is really light, fun to shoot and easy to clean.
BUT
Is there anything better that a 30.06?
These are wonderful old rifles, historically rich yet still quite functional. I would love to see them get into the hands of as many appreciative Americans as possible, with as little interference from the feds as humanly possible.
Me, too! How can I get one?
I think I could eat Ramen noodles for a month if I could get a Garand...no problemo.
Exactly. I don’t know if there are even 85k vets left.
These things go for around $1500 a piece to us civvies.
In a post on this topic last week, I had asked if CMP would get them.. Got this in the CMP newsletter yesterday:
“GARANDS FROM KOREA: Once again our phone lines and email boxes are flooded with requests for information on the purchase of M1 Garands from Korea. The Korea Times reported last week that the U.S. Government had approved Korea’s request to sell 86,000 M1 Garands to U.S. importers. CMP is not a firearms importer and if these rifles are sold to U.S. importers, they will not come to the CMP or be sold by the CMP. We will not have any information on the sale of these rifles.”
I'm guessing that these rifles will be sold through the CMP?
The previous shipment of these rifles would have been sold through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The Organizer in Chief will be pressured by anti gun rights groups once again.
Unlike rifles going through CMP, these will be sold through private importers, and will be required to have import mark imprints stamped on the metal. They will not have the same collector value as unaltered originals. But, the condition of the rifles will be from horrendous to some that were unissued.
CMP currently has Garands loaned by us to other countries and returned for sale from $595.00 to $3,000 for a M1C Sniper rifle without a scope.
CMP is at http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/rifles.htm
That would be my guess. the CMP is traditionally how fine milsurp rifles made their way into civilian hands. My gun club qualifies under the rules of the CMP so I should be able to get one. And while I’m at it, let me put in another plug for the Appleseed program. No better opportunity to try out that Garand. Turn ammo into skill.
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